City to Install Water Bottle Filling Stations

Traverse City will have three new water bottle filling stations downtown this summer, thanks to the donations of local organizations and individuals. Hagerty Insurance, the National Cherry Festival and an anonymous individual donor have agreed to each provide a $7,000 gift to the city to help cover the permanent installation and ongoing maintenance of the three stations, which will serve as traditional drinking fountains outfitted with a special feature to also fill reusable water bottles. The city will retrofit two existing drinking fountains in the Open Space and near the West End Volleyball Courts with the new design and install a third new station at the entrance to Clinch Park Marina at Grandview Parkway and Union Street.

The stations are expected to be installed by the end of May and will operate annually from approximately May to October. City staff have indicated additional stations may be installed downtown in the future as other locations are identified and backed by donors.